Do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
When they carry out their wicked schemes.’ (Psalm 37: 7)
So often the tide of darkness sweeps over the earth.
Plans that will be hurtful to others.
Policies that will benefit only the privileged.
Promises made without commitment to see them through.
Pleas for food, housing, and justice that will remain unheard.
But the ancient voice of faith calls us to be still before the Lord, to resist the pull into darkness and to wait patiently.
So
we pray for grace to acknowledge Your control over all, to trust in your ways, to be sure within ourselves that love, justice and peace will not sleep forever.
And may it begin in us.
For too often we have added to the darkness with our words, our thoughts, our attitudes and our actions.
Forgive us.
As we wait for the Lord let this be combined with our commitment to let our lives reflect your love, your goodness, your justice.
We thank you for your Church
Where we have heard the story of Jesus,
Where faithful people have shown the love of Christ to those on need.
We thank you especially for those now at rest who were faithful to the end and have left us with an example of commitment and perseverance.
We pray that your Church throughout the world would never be in disarray because of human prejudice and that barriers overcome in christ would never be reinforced.
We pray for the world that no one would ever be disadvantaged because of race, faith, gender or class.
We pray for our nation that we might have your perspective on the things that divide us and learn to appreciate the things that unite us.
We pray for those who suffer intolerance and pray that they would find strong in the One who was despised and rejected.
We pray for those known to us whose quality of life has been affected by pain, anxiety, bereavement and ask that the Holy Spirit would be close to reassure and revitalise.
